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Adolescents’ Perceptions of Helmet-Wearing Peers

McNicholas, Caroline Ivy
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1292035163

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Psychology, General.
Bicycling is a common form of recreation for adolescents. Despite injury risk, adolescent helmet use rates are very low (e.g. 5%-20%). The purpose of this study was to examine adolescent attitudes toward helmet use among hypothetical peers. Participants were 40 adolescent boys aged 10-14; 60% of participants reported “never” or “rarely” wearing a helmet. Youth were presented with a series of three photographs of same-age, same-sex peers riding bicycles with or without helmets. Attitudes towards the hypothetical peers were measured using the Photograph Reaction Questionnaire (PRQ) and the Revised Adjective Checklist (RAC). Analysis of the RAC revealed that peers used more positive adjectives to describe helmet-wearing peers than peers without helmets t(39) = 2.60, p = .01. Self-reported helmet use was significantly correlated with friends’ use (r=.65, p<.01) and parents’ required use (r=.63, p<.01). Adolescents reported more positive perceptions of hypothetical peers who wore helmets than peers who were featured without helmets. Future studies should attempt to explore the link between peer pressure and helmet-use behavior.
Keri Brown Kirschman, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Susan Davis, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Melissa Layman-Guadalupe, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
60 p.
Psychology
adolescent; helmet use; peer influence; safety equipment; attitudes

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McNicholas, C. I. (2010). Adolescents’ Perceptions of Helmet-Wearing Peers [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1292035163

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McNicholas, Caroline. Adolescents’ Perceptions of Helmet-Wearing Peers. 2010. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1292035163.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McNicholas, Caroline. "Adolescents’ Perceptions of Helmet-Wearing Peers." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1292035163

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.